Sermon Central
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Never Unemployed
Contributed by Jay Yousling on Dec 1, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus was laboring day and night. The Twelve were beside Him but that was not enough to work the vast, ripe harvest. He calls to the Father for more workers, but what does that look like? What should we pray for?
It seems like we need more laborers. What does this look like? This was my QT this weekend:
Never Unemployed. Praying for Laborers?
Matthew 9:35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. 36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
I. Jesus Ensample:
A. Jesus obeyed His SENDING Mandate. He went SEEKING through ALL
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
B. Jesus SPOKE to the people. teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom
John 12:49 “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.”
C. Jesus SERVED in His unique way. healing every disease and sickness
Mark 10:44 “and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.”
D. Jesus SYMPATHIZED with the pain and struggles He saw and felt. saw the crowds; moved with compassion
Hebrews 4:16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.”
II. Crowds Struggle:
A. Cast Out (distant, separated, disconnected) << Jesus sent into the world
B. Harassed (Hurting, struggling, physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally) << Jesus served people
C. Like Sheep (Susceptible, vulnerable) << Jesus shared truth to protect and feed
D. Without a Shepherd << Jesus sympathized with the pain and struggles, not a hired hand.
III. Praying for Laborers (Disciples), that the Father would raise up ones to be...
A. Seeking - Actually crossing boundaries, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, to reach the lost; understands and is obeying God's mandate for the church
B. Speaking - Communicating to God and people; Prayer, QTs, Sharing gospel and QTs; Listener, Under authority; Teachable, trained, able to share, speak, write, knows truth & gospel. Some can not speak. Some cannot but speak. EM Bounds wrote, "Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still."
C. Serving - doing the work to serve, help, heal, humble, generous, giving, using talents, gifts, life experiences
D. Sympathizing - moved, motivated by God's love for people; not deterred by poverty, being invisible, fallow, slow, ineffective; tender, relating, feeling people's struggles, self-starter, responsible.
Let's pray right now. Dear Father in heaven...
